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Team:StanfordBrownSpelman/Cellulose Acetate
From 2014.igem.org
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| + | The body of the UAV is designed to consist a styrofoam-like filler consisting of fungal mycelia, coated with a cellulose acetate covering. This skin will be the material sensors can be linked to (see Amberless Hell Cell and ). | ||
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Cellulose acetate is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer used for a variety of industrial applications.<sup>[1]</sup> The monomer of cellulose acetate is glucose with one or more of its available hydroxyl groups replaced with acetyl groups. Cellulose acetate is industrially produced by treating cellulose, typically from wood or cotton, with acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid at high temperatures.<sup>[1]</sup> Our aim is to engineer bacterial cells to produce industrial-grade cellulose acetate biologically, allowing this plastic to be produced anywhere that bacterial colonies can be grown (i. e. in space). This material could then be used as a basis or coating for a biodegradable UAV. Many species of bacteria produce cellulose fibers; however, <i>Gluconacetobacter hansenii</i> has been identified as species producing the highest yield of cellulose. <sup>[2]</sup> Another strain of bacteria, the SBW25 isolate of the species <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i>, produces a biofilm containing cellulose fibers with a small degree of acetylation (.14 acetyl groups per glucose monomer).<sup>[3]</sup> Industrial-grade cellulose acetate must have at least 1.71 acetyl groups per glucose monomer. <sup>[4]</sup> In order to engineer a bacterium to efficiently produce cellulose acetate, our strategy is to transform <i>G. hansenii</i> with the four genes, wssF, wssG, wssH, and wssI, that have been identified <sup>[3]</sup> as being involved in cellulose acetylation in <i>P. fluorescens</i>, and to use directed evolution to further increase percent acetylation of the polymer. | Cellulose acetate is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer used for a variety of industrial applications.<sup>[1]</sup> The monomer of cellulose acetate is glucose with one or more of its available hydroxyl groups replaced with acetyl groups. Cellulose acetate is industrially produced by treating cellulose, typically from wood or cotton, with acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid at high temperatures.<sup>[1]</sup> Our aim is to engineer bacterial cells to produce industrial-grade cellulose acetate biologically, allowing this plastic to be produced anywhere that bacterial colonies can be grown (i. e. in space). This material could then be used as a basis or coating for a biodegradable UAV. Many species of bacteria produce cellulose fibers; however, <i>Gluconacetobacter hansenii</i> has been identified as species producing the highest yield of cellulose. <sup>[2]</sup> Another strain of bacteria, the SBW25 isolate of the species <i>Pseudomonas fluorescens</i>, produces a biofilm containing cellulose fibers with a small degree of acetylation (.14 acetyl groups per glucose monomer).<sup>[3]</sup> Industrial-grade cellulose acetate must have at least 1.71 acetyl groups per glucose monomer. <sup>[4]</sup> In order to engineer a bacterium to efficiently produce cellulose acetate, our strategy is to transform <i>G. hansenii</i> with the four genes, wssF, wssG, wssH, and wssI, that have been identified <sup>[3]</sup> as being involved in cellulose acetylation in <i>P. fluorescens</i>, and to use directed evolution to further increase percent acetylation of the polymer. | ||
| - | In addition, we seek to create a streptavidin/cellulose-binding-domain fusion protein which will have the capacity to both cross-link bacterial cellulose acetate polymers (improving material properties) and allow the modular addition of cells (e.g. biosensors). This will be accomplished through the expression on the cells of a biotinylated membrane protein. This will allow biological sensors to be added directly to our cellulose acetate fibers, allowing bacterial sensors to be attached directly to the body of our UAV. | + | </p>In addition, we seek to create a streptavidin/cellulose-binding-domain fusion protein which will have the capacity to both cross-link bacterial cellulose acetate polymers (improving material properties) and allow the modular addition of cells (e.g. biosensors). This will be accomplished through the expression on the cells of a biotinylated membrane protein. This will allow biological sensors to be added directly to our cellulose acetate fibers, allowing bacterial sensors to be attached directly to the body of our UAV. |
<div class="sub4"><a href="work/PUT-PDF-REFERENCE-HEREpdf"><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/2/25/SBS_iGEM_2014_download.png"></a><a href="work/PUT-PDF-REFERENCE-HEREpdf">Click here to download our project journal, which details our design and engineering process and included descriptions of the protocols we developed and used.</a></div> | <div class="sub4"><a href="work/PUT-PDF-REFERENCE-HEREpdf"><img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/2/25/SBS_iGEM_2014_download.png"></a><a href="work/PUT-PDF-REFERENCE-HEREpdf">Click here to download our project journal, which details our design and engineering process and included descriptions of the protocols we developed and used.</a></div> | ||
Revision as of 11:14, 14 October 2014
